ALUMINIUM

Aluminium in building construction:

Properties, Advantages, Available Forms-Extrusion, casting, foil, powder & sheet - uses-
finishes - anodising, surface texture, colour coating & painting. Applications in buildings.

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• Aluminium is a silvery-white metal which occurs in abundance on the surface of earth.

• It is available in various forms such as oxides, sulphates, silicates, phosphates, etc.
• But is commercially produced mainly from Bauxite.

• Aluminium is the third most abundant element (after oxygen and silicon), and the
most abundant metal, in the Earth's crust.
• It makes up about 8% by weight of the Earth's solid surface

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MANUFACTURE OF ALUMINIUM

The aluminium is extracted from bauxite ores as follows:

1) Bauxite is ground and purified

2) Dissolved in fused cryolite which is double fluoride of aluminium and
sodium
3) This solution is taken to an electric furnace and aluminium is separated by
electrolysis

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PROPERTIES OF ALUMINIUM
1) It is very good conductor of heat and electricity

2) Silvery white metal with bluish tinge and bright luster at cut surfaces

3) Non magnetic substance

4) Rarely attacked by nitric acid, organic acid and water

5) Highly resistant to corrosion

6) Light in weight, malleable and ductile

7) Very soft

8) Melts at 660 degree C and

boiling point at 2056degree C
9) Possesses great toughness and tensile strength

10) Readily dissolves in hydrochloric acids

11) Specific gravity is 2.7 BMC II MODULE 3 S3 BATCH
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Toxicity:
Aluminium is not only non-toxic but also does not release any odours or taint products
with which it is in contact. This makes aluminium suitable for use in packaging for
sensitive products such as food or pharmaceuticals where aluminium foil is used.

Recycling:
The recyclability of aluminium is unparalleled. When recycled there is no degradation
in properties when recycled aluminium is compared to virgin aluminium.

Furthermore, recycling of aluminium only requires around 5 percent of the input

energy required to produce virgin aluminium metal.

Currently around 60% of aluminium metal is recycled at the end of its lifecycle but this
percentage can still be vastly improved.

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ALUMINIUM AS BUILDING MATERIAL

Following are the properties of aluminum which makes aluminum as one of the important
building materials.

1. Air tightness
2. High strength to weight ratio
3. Ease in fabrication and assembly
4. Cryogenics
5. Low Handling and transportation cost
6. High reflectivity
7. Corrosion resistance
8. Appearance
9. High Scrap value
10. Sound proof
11. Maintenance

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ALUMINIUM AS BUILDING MATERIAL

AIR TIGHTNESS:
A well designed aluminum door , window etc. is perfectly air tight and
sealed out for dust and rain water, when closed.
• This is useful in fully air conditioned buildings.

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ALUMINIUM AS BUILDING MATERIAL

APPEARANCE:

Aluminum can be anodized or painted in any

colour, to any optical effect, number of surface
touches, in order to meet a decorative needs.

It serves to enhance the material’s durability

and corrosion resistance, as well as providing
an easy to-clean surface.

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ALUMINIUM AS BUILDING MATERIAL

CRYOGENICS:

The science dealing with the effects of very low temperatures on the properties of
matter is known as cryogenics.
Aluminium is highly suitable for sub-zero temperatures.
Where as steel becomes brittle at low temperatures, aluminium increases in tensile
strength and retains excellent toughness.

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ALUMINIUM AS BUILDING MATERIAL

EASE IN FABRICATION AND ASSEMBLY:

Compared to other metals aluminum alloys can be cast, forged, extruded, rolled or
welded easily.

Aluminium corrugated sheets do not break or crack during or after erection because it is
not brittle.

An aluminium structure can be easily dismantled, transported and re-erected in

different locations.

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ALUMINIUM AS BUILDING MATERIAL

HANDLING AND TRANSPORT COST

• Require fewer joints, producing fast and economical installation.

• Aluminium can be sawed, drilled, riveted, screwed, bent, welded and soldered in
the workshop or on the building site.

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ALUMINIUM AS BUILDING MATERIAL

HIGH CORROSION RESISTANCE:

Aluminium building products are made from alloys, which are weather-proof,
corrosion-resistant and immune to the harmful effects of UV rays, ensuring optimal
performance over a very long serviceable lifetime.
Aluminium corrugated sheets are ideal for use in power plants,steel plants,chemical
plants,paper mills,saw mills,tanneries etc.

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ALUMINIUM AS BUILDING MATERIAL

HIGH REFLECTIVITY

Aluminium possess very good reflectivity.

It does not absorb radiant heat and low absorption heat helps in maintaining
the surrounding areas cool during summer and warm in winter.

Aluminium solar collectors can be

installed to lower energy consumption for
artificial lighting and heating in winter,
while aluminium shading devices can be
used to reduce the need for air
conditioning in summer.

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ALUMINIUM AS BUILDING MATERIAL

HIGH SCRAP VALUE

• To produce aluminum from recycled

material, for example, requires only 5% of
the energy required to produce
aluminium from bauxite.

• In addition, every ton of recycled

aluminum saves four tons of bauxite.

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ALUMINIUM AS BUILDING MATERIAL

HIGH STENGTH TO WEIGHT RATIO

Aluminium sections are generally thinner and deeper than equivalent steel sections
to achieve the required strength and rigidity of same level.

This also helps in achieving speed in construction.

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ALUMINIUM AS BUILDING MATERIAL

MAINTENANCE COST:

• Due to the high corrosion resistance of Aluminium,the maintenance cost is

negligible.

• Properly treated Aluminium sections can withstand both sea coast and
industrial atmosphere for more than 25 to 30 years.

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ALUMINIUM AS BUILDING MATERIAL

NOISE CONTROL:

• Aluminium is an excellent reflectors of sound waves as well as electromagnetic

waves.

• Aluminium building is less affected by external noises as compared to buildings

with other materials.

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ECONOMICS OF USING ALUMINIUM

Aluminium is expensive in the initial cost, but economical in the long run due to durability,
virtual elimination of maintenance and lightness in weight.

The advantages claimed by using aluminium in respect of the following items are:

1) Asbestos cement corrugated sheet:

• It is cheaper than Al , but 7 times heavier ,

so require heavier structural supports.

• They are fragile and liable to breakage

• Reported to pose serious health issues and

are banned in many countries

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ECONOMICS OF USING ALUMINIUM

2) Corrugated galvanized iron sheets

-Costlier than Al
-Heavier than Al
-Need heavier supports for construction/
erection at a height

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ECONOMICS OF USING ALUMINIUM

3) Steel
-Limitation on the structural sections – like I section, channels, angle, Tee etc.
-Al offers limitless possibilities of different shapes and profile
-With Al ,Designer get freedom on structural requirements, weather proofing and
mechanical needs
-Al can give infinite number of shapes and profile in continuous length

4) Timber
• Initial cost of Al is less when compared to timber
• Maintenance is higher for timber
• Periodical painting is required for timber
• Use of Al instead of wood,helps to preserve forest.

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FORMS OF ALUMINIUM

Aluminium takes one of the following forms:

1) Casting Based

The known applications of this type are:

a)Baluster head

b)Hardware and fittings

c)Security and decorative grills

(Refer: Engineering Materials-Rangwala pg 280-282)

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FORMS OF ALUMINIUM

2) ExtrusionBased

a) Door and window frames

• This is the major applications of

aluminium in buildings.

• Several sizes of frames are available.

(Refer: Engineering Materials-Rangwala pg 280-282)

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b) Fascia panels and curtain walls

• External non-load bearing wall designed

to carry its own weight

• Sufficiently strong to carry wind loads

• Larger sizes can be produced by using

interlocking sections.

(Refer: Engineering Materials-Rangwala pg 280-282)

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c) Geodesic domes and space grids

Vaulted structure of light weight straight elements that form interlocking polygons

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d) Green house and roof top garden

(Refer: Engineering Materials-Rangwala pg 280-282)

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e) Hardware and fittings

(Refer: Engineering Materials-Rangwala pg 280-282)

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f) North light glazing frames

• North Light Glazing is used

to take natural day light
from North side.

• The aluminium frames

make it easy and quick to
erect.

• Maintenance free

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g) Partition and space dividers

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(Refer: Engineering Materials-Rangwala pg 280-282)
3) Foil and powder based:

a) Decorative laminate

b) Insulative foils

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c) Paints

Grant protection against corrosive environments.

d) Waterproofing sheets

Aluminium laminated
waterproofing membrane sheet

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4) Sheet based

a) Cable tray

b) Planar or flat type false ceilings

(Refer: Engineering Materials-Rangwala pg 280-282)

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c) Prefabricated house

d) Rain water articles

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e) Ridging and angles of roof

f) Roofing and siding

(Refer: Engineering Materials-Rangwala pg

280-282) BMC II MODULE 3 S3 BATCH